When The River Euphrates Runs Dry
(Taken from Chapter 10 of Steve Wohlberg's book,
Exploding the Israel Deception)
"The sixth angel poured out his vial upon the great river Euphrates; and the water was dried up, that the way of the kings of the east might be prepared." Revelation 16:12. In order to correctly understand this prophecy, we must first study some ancient Bible history about Israel and Babylon. In 605 B.C., "Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon" came "unto Jerusalem, and besieged it." Daniel 1:1. Jerusalem was conquered and Israel was taken captive for 70 years (Daniel 9:2). After those 70 years, an amazing set of circumstances occurred. The Euphrates was dried up, Babylon was conquered from the east, and Israel was delivered. As we shall soon see, this history forms the background for a true understanding of Revelation 16:12.
Ancient Babylon sat on the river Euphrates (Jeremiah 51:63, 64). A wall surrounded the city. The river Euphrates ran through Babylon, entering and exiting through two spiked gates whose bars reached down to the riverbed. When these double doors were shut and all other entrances were closed, Babylon was impregnable. Ancient Babylon was "most proud," "a golden cup…that made all the earth drunken…of her wine." Jeremiah 50:32; 51:7. Yet she was to fall suddenly and be destroyed (Jeremiah 51:8). Then God would call Israel, saying, "My people go ye out of the midst of her." Jeremiah 51:45. As we shall soon see, these exact words are repeated in the book of Revelation to spiritual Israel about the importance of coming out of modern Babylon (Revelation 17:4, 5; 18:2-8).
In 538 B.C., on the night of ancient Babylon’s fall, her king and subjects were drunk with wine (Daniel chapter 5). So were the guards and they forgot to fully close the double doors. Over 100 years earlier, God had predicted concerning Babylon and the Euphrates, "I will dry up thy rivers." Isaiah 44:27. The Lord also spoke about "Cyrus," who conquered Babylon, saying, "I will…open before him the two leaved gates; and the gates shall not be shut." Isaiah 95:1. Moreover God called Cyrus "my shepherd" and "his anointed" (Isaiah 44:28; 45:1). Thus Cyrus was a type of Jesus Christ. And he came "from the east" Isaiah 46:11!
Inside the British Museum in London lies the famous Cyrus Cylinder. It describes how Cyrus, a general of Darius, conquered Babylon. Cyrus and his army dug trenches upstream alongside of the river Euphrates. By diverting the water, the river gradually went down as it ran through the city of Babylon. No one noticed. At night, at the height of Belshazzar’s drunken feast, the water became low enough for Cyrus and his men to quietly slip under the double doors, which had been left open. Quickly they overran the doomed city, killed the king (Daniel 5:30), and conquered Babylon. Then Cyrus issued a decree to let Israel go (Ezra chapter 1).
The book of Revelation uses the events, geography, and terminology of the Old Testament, and then applies them universally to Jesus Christ, the Israel of God, and modern Babylon at the end of time. A failure to discern this principle has resulted in a massive misunderstanding of Revelation, a false Middle-East focus, and deception!
In Revelation chapter 17, a holy angel said to the apostle John: "Come hither; I will shew unto thee the judgment of the great whore that sitteth upon many waters." "So he carried me away in the spirit into the wilderness: and I saw a woman sit upon a scarlet coloured beast, full of names of blasphemy …having a golden cup in her hand." "And upon her forehead was a name written, MYSTERY, BABYLON THE GREAT, THE MOTHER OF HARLOTS AND ABOMINATIONS OF THE EARTH." Revelation 17:1, 3, 4, 5 John saw this woman when he was "in the spirit." Even so must we be "in the "Spirit" in order to understand this prophecy!
Notice carefully. John saw a Mystery Babylon who "sitteth upon many waters." She also has "a golden cup," just like we read in Jeremiah! Yet this "Mystery Babylon" is not the same as the ancient city of Babylon in the Middle East. And the "many waters" that she sits upon certainly do not refer to the literal river Euphrates that today trickles through modern Iraq. No! Revelation’s angel interpreter said, "The waters which thou sawest, where the whore sitteth, are peoples, and multitudes, and nations, and tongues." Revelation 17:15.
The genius of Revelation is that it uses the history of the Old Testament and then applies it spiritually to a Mystery Babylon, which now sits upon the "many waters" of a spiritual river Euphrates! According to the angel interpreter, this river of "many waters" actually represents "peoples, and multitudes, and nations" around the world that support Mystery Babylon and her global deceptions (Revelation 17:15, 18:23). Echoing the ancient words of the prophet Jeremiah, yet applying them spiritually and globally, Revelation says, "Babylon is fallen, is fallen, that great city, because she made all nations drink of the wine of the wrath of her fornication." Revelation 14:8.
The error of those who adopt the "literal Middle East" method of interpreting Revelation’s prophecies stems from:
· 1) The belief that those prophecies must apply to the Israel of the flesh.
· 2) A failure to study the Old Testament’s "root history" behind Revelation’s prophecies.
· 3) A failure to apply that history spiritually and universally to the Israel in the Spirit and to the Lord’s global enemies.
Modern interpreters usually apply the words "Babylon," "Euphrates," and "kings of the east" to a literal city, a literal river, and literal armies in the Middle East. Yet Revelation speaks of the "which spiritually is called Sodom and Egypt," about a "Mystery, Babylon," and about "waters" that represent "peoples, and multitudes, and nations and tongues." Revelation 11:8; 17:1, 5, 15.
This issue can be compared to the wearing of two different pairs of glasses. If we put on the "literal Middle East glasses" and then read Revelation, we will "see" these prophecies as applying to the Israel in the flesh. But if we put on the "Middle East symbolism glasses" and then read Revelation, we will "see" these prophecies as applying to the Israel in the Spirit. Paul wrote to Christians, "But ye are not in the flesh, but in the Spirit." Romans 8:9. If we put on the wrong glasses and interpret prophecy according to the flesh, we will end up more blind than a bat. But if we put on the right glasses and interpret prophecy according to the Spirit, then we will say, "I was blind, now I see." John 9:25.
A woman in prophecy represents a church. The Church of Jesus Christ is called "his wife" who makes "herself ready" for the marriage supper of the Lamb (Revelation 19:7, 8). That woman called "MYSTERY, BABYLON" represents a false form of Christianity which has fallen away from God and is now leading "peoples, and multitudes, and nations, and tongues" away from the truth of Jesus Christ! Just like ancient Israel during her darkest days, this modern Babylon is now "playing the harlot." Ezekiel16:1, 2, 15, 35. She is even now making "all nations" drunk with "her wine," which represents her false doctrines. This Mystery Babylon is now denying "the mystery of Christ" that we studied about in Chapter 7. She has rebuilt a wall between Jews and Gentiles—a wall that Jesus Christ abolished at the cross (Ephesians 2:14-17).
In the Old Testament, when Cyrus dried up the literal river Euphrates, God told literal Jews to come out of literal Babylon. "My people," the Lord pleaded, "go ye out of the midst of her, and deliver ye every man his soul from the fierce anger of the Lord." Jeremiah 51:45. This very same call is now being given in Revelation to those in the midst of spiritual Babylon. God says, "Come out of her, my people, that ye be not partakers of her sins, and that ye receive not of her plagues." Revelation 18:4.
Inside spiritual Babylon today are large numbers of true Christians who are serving the Lord to the best of their ability. This applies to many who are even now teaching false prophecy. Yet God still calls them "my people." The Lord mercifully sees them as part of His spiritual Israel. But they are confused! The word "Babylon" means "confusion." Because of today’s global religions confusion, especially about Bible prophecy, millions of the Lord’s people now believe false theories about the end of time! Yet according to Revelation 18:4, Jesus Christ is now calling us all to "come out" of spiritual confusion and into the truth of His Word. We must all leave Babylon before it is too late! Soon the river will run dry!
"The sixth angel poured out his vial upon the great river Euphrates; and the water thereof was dried up." Revelation 16:12, emphasis added. "Babylon the Great" now sits on "the great river Euphrates." This river represents "peoples, and multitudes" around the world who, refusing to come out, continue to support the false doctrines of Mystery Babylon. Soon "the sixth angel" will pour out "his vial upon the great river Euphrates." This vial is one of the seven "vials of the wrath of God." Revelation 16:1. Thus, it is the wrath of God, not modern Turkey that will dry up the Euphrates! What does it mean? Brace yourself. It means that God’s wrath will be soon poured out upon people who continue to support the deceptions of Babylon!
When the "peoples, and multitudes, and nations" that have supported modern Babylon up to the end finally experience God’s wrath, then they will realize that they have been deceived. Then they will "hate the whore, and shall make her desolate and naked, and shall eat her flesh, and burn her with fire." Revelation 17:16. Their support for Babylon will vanish. This is how Babylon’s water will dry up, preparing the way for the "kings’ of the east." Revelation 16:12.
Cyrus came from "the east" to conquer ancient Babylon (Isaiah 44:26-28; 46:11). The word "east" means "sun rising." The name "Cyrus" means "sun." Cyrus was a type of Jesus Christ, the "Sun of righteousness." Malachi 4:2. In Revelation, God’s angels come from the east (Revelation 7:2). Jesus said, "As the lightening cometh out of the east, and shineth even unto the west; so shall also the coming of the Son of man be." Matthew 24:27, emphasis added. Jesus is coming from the east with the armies of heaven as "KING OF KINGS, AND LORD OF LORDS." Revelation 19:14, 16. Thus, the "kings of the east" are not the Chinese, but King Jesus and His armies, which will soon descend from the eastern skies to conquer modern Babylon and to deliver Israel at Armageddon!
Which Israel will Jesus deliver? It will surely be an Israel in the Spirit, which, having chosen to walk in the Spirit and to interpret prophecy according to the Spirit, has also chosen to "come out" of Mystery Babylon and to forsake its fleshy ideas (Galatians 5:16, 25; Revelation 18:4). Let’s be part of that Israel!
References to Revelation 16:12:
Rev 9:14 Saying to the sixth angel which had the trumpet, Loose the four angels which are bound in the great river Euphrates.
Jeremiah 51:36 Therefore thus saith the LORD; Behold, I will plead thy cause, and take vengeance for thee; and I will dry up her sea, and make her springs dry.
Isaiah 8:7 Now therefore, behold, the Lord bringeth up upon them the waters of the river, strong and many, even the king of Assyria, and all his glory: and he shall come up over all his channels, and go over all his banks:
Rev 17:15 And he saith unto me, The waters which thou sawest, where the whore sitteth, are peoples, and multitudes, and nations, and tongues.
Signs of the Times
December 29, 1890 A Symbol of the Final Destruction.
"Behold, I will stir up the Medes against them, which shall not regard silver; and as for gold, they shall not delight in it. Their bows also shall dash the young men to pieces; and they shall have no pity on the fruit of the womb; their eye shall not spare children. And Babylon, the glory of kingdoms, the beauty of the Chaldees' excellency, shall be as when God overthrew Sodom and Gomorrah." {ST, December 29, 1890 par. 1}
The destruction of Babylon pictures to some degree the final destruction of the world, of which the prophet writes, "Behold, the day of the Lord cometh, cruel both with wrath and fierce anger, to lay the land desolate; and he shall destroy the sinners thereof out of it." Destruction came upon Babylon while the king and his lords were engaged in feasting and revelry. Cyrus and his army marched up the bed of the river Euphrates; for trenches had been dug, and the river turned from its course, so that there was no obstruction to their entering the city, provided the gates were opened. The guardsmen were indulging in merriment and revelry, and the city was left without defense. Before the officers were aware, the enemy had entered the city, and escape was impossible. Those in one part of the city were slain or captured before those in another part knew that the city was invaded. No alarm was sounded, no cry could be raised to warn the people that the forces of Cyrus were upon them. {ST, December 29, 1890 par. 2}
The monarch, his princes, and guardsmen, were given up to feasting, and, intoxicated with strong drink; they knew nothing of the peril of the kingdom. There was a noise at the palace gates, the doors were forced open, the troops of Cyrus rushed in, and in a short time the king and his guests were lying mangled in the heaps of the slain, and the drunken slept a perpetual sleep. Thus was the prophecy of Isaiah and Jeremiah fulfilled to the letter. {ST, December 29, 1890 par. 3}
Prophets and Kings Chapter 59 “The House of Israel”
No longer have the hosts of evil power to keep the church captive; for "Babylon is fallen, is fallen, that great city," which hath "made all nations drink of the wine of the wrath of her fornication;" and to spiritual Israel is given the message, "Come out of her, My people, that ye be not partakers of her sins, and that ye receive not of her plagues." Verse 8; 18:4. As the captive exiles heeded the message, "Flee out of the midst of Babylon" (Jeremiah 51:6), and were restored to the Land of Promise, so those who fear God today are heeding the message to withdraw from spiritual Babylon, and soon they are to stand as trophies of divine grace in the earth made new, the heavenly Canaan. {PK 715.1}
Prophets and Kings Chap. 45 - The Return of the Exiles
The advent of the army of Cyrus before the walls of Babylon was to the Jews a sign that their deliverance from captivity was drawing nigh. More than a century before the birth of Cyrus, Inspiration had mentioned him by name, and had caused a record to be made of the actual work he should do in taking the city of Babylon unawares, and in preparing the way for the release of the children of the captivity. Through Isaiah the word had been spoken: {PK 551.1}
"Thus saith the Lord to His anointed, to Cyrus, whose right hand I have holden, to subdue nations before him; . . . to open before him the two-leaved gates; and the gates shall not be shut; I will go before thee, and make the crooked places straight: I will break in pieces the gates of brass, and cut in sunder the bars of iron: and I will give thee the treasures of darkness, and hidden riches of secret places, that thou mayest know that I, the Lord, which call thee by thy name, am the God of Israel." Isaiah 45:1-3. {PK 551.2}
In the unexpected entry of the army of the Persian conqueror into the heart of the Babylonian capital by way of the channel of the river whose waters had been turned aside, and through the inner gates that in careless security had been left open and unprotected, the Jews had abundant evidence of the literal fulfillment of Isaiah's prophecy concerning the sudden overthrow of their oppressors. And this should have been to them an unmistakable sign that God was shaping the affairs of nations in their behalf; for inseparably linked with the prophecy outlining the manner of Babylon's capture and fall were the words: {PK 552.1}
"Cyrus, he is My shepherd, and shall perform all My pleasure: even saying to Jerusalem, Thou shalt be built; and to the temple, Thy foundation shall be laid." "I have raised him up in righteousness, and I will direct all his ways: he shall build My city, and he shall let go My captives, not for price nor reward, saith the Lord of hosts." Isaiah 44:28; 45:13. {PK 552.2}
Nor were these the only prophecies upon which the exiles had opportunity to base their hope of speedy deliverance. The writings of Jeremiah were within their reach, and in these were plainly set forth the length of time that should elapse before the restoration of Israel from Babylon. "When seventy years are accomplished," the Lord had foretold through His messenger, "I will punish the king of Babylon, and that nation, saith the Lord, for their iniquity, and the land of the Chaldeans, and will make it perpetual desolations." Jeremiah 25:12.